COMMON WORDS, USED UNCOMMONLY
COMMON WORDS, USED UNCOMMONLY…
For example, French people use the following common words, in quite an uncommon way. Firstly did you know that a broom is a common utensil that you use to sweep. However, what you may not know is that it can also be used to describe someone, who is incredibly stupid!
UN BALAI – A BRUSH/A BROOM
- Balayer – To sweep.
- être con comme un balai – To be incredibly stupid.
- Rôtir le balai – To burn the candle at both ends.
- Balayer quelqu’un – To dismiss someone.
- Donner un coup de balai – To sweep.
- On ne peut pas le bilayer du revers de la main – We cannot sweep it aside.
- Balayer devant notre porte – To search or examine our conscience.
UN BOL – A BOWL
- J’en ai ras le bol – I am fed up.
- Un coup de bol – A stroke of luck.
- Avoir du bol – To be lucky.
UNE TABLE – A TABLE…
- Avoir le dos au feu et le ventre au table – To have one’s back to the fire and one’s stomach to the table – to be comfortable.
- Faire table rase – To start from scratch.
- La table de la cuisine – The kitchen table.
- A coffee table – Une table basse.
- Une table de matières – A table of contents.
- A discussion table – Une table ronde.
UN RÊVE – A DREAM
- Rêver – to dream.
- Une Chimère – A pipe dream.
- Une équipe de rêve – A dream team.
- Un métier de rêve – A dream job.
- Elle passe son temps à rêver – She spends her time dreaming.
- Briser un rêve – to shatter a dream.
- Même pas en rêve – No way!
UN ANGE – AN ANGEL
- Être aux anges – To be in 7th Heaven.
- Un ange passe – Expression used when there is a long silence in a gathering.
- Tu es un ange – You are an angel.
- Un ange gardien – A guardian angel.